Suvi Koponen
Encyclopedia
Suvi Maria Koponen is a Finnish
fashion model who rose to fame after winning the 2005 Mallikoulu
(Model School in English
) contest in Finland
, which can be compared with America's Next Top Model
, although it is not affiliated with the Top Model franchise.
Koponen has established a credible modeling career. She has worked for numerous designers including Anna Sui
, Vera Wang
, Marc Jacobs
, Donna Karan
, Anne Klein
, Blumarine
, Miu Miu
, BCBG Max Azria
, Calvin Klein
, Louis Vuitton
, Nina Ricci
and Prada
. Koponen has also had an editorial in the French Vogue
shot by David Sims. Koponen has also appeared in the American Vogue and made the cover of Vogue Portugal in March 2008.
Paparazzi agency. Koponen made her runway debut at the major Fashion Weeks during the Fall/Winter 06/07 runway season, but it was not until the following season that she truly broke out, walking exclusively for Prada
and Miu Miu. Paul Rowland http://paulrowland.com/, the founder of Supreme, met Suvi for the first time in New York
. He designed a unique hairstyle for her and famously told Miuccia Prada: "I have got a new star for you." She was also on the cover of Finnish magazine Pàp in November 2005 and also in 2006. Later the same year, she appeared on the cover of Amica magazine (Germany
) and in print ads for Anteprime. After 2006 Koponen became recognised internationally.
In 2007 Koponen appeared in five editorials for French
, British
, Italian
, and American
Vogue
. She became the face of Balenciaga
fall campaign and replaced Natalia Vodianova
as the face of the Calvin Klein
collection. In February 2007 she walked the runways for Chanel
, Hermès
, Jil Sander
, and Nina Ricci
, among others. She appeared on cover of French Vogue Beaute and opened the Jill Stuart, Marc by Marc Jacobs
, and Marni
fashion shows and closed the Nina Ricci show in Paris. She appeared on cover of Dazed & Confused
in April 2007. In fall 2007 she became the face of Blumarine
spring ad-campaign alongside Bette Franke
and starred in the Mulberry
fall ad-campaign alongside Caroline Trentini
. In fall 2008 Suvi was the face of Calvin Klein
in a campaign shot by Fabien Baron
.
In August 2007 New York Magazine chose "The Top Ten Models to Watch This Fashion Week" and placed Koponen on third.
In September 2007 she was named one of British Vogue's “Head Girls,” a model to watch out for in the upcoming season. She also opened the Reem Acra spring show in New York
and closed the Carolina Herrera, Jill Stuart and DKNY
spring shows in New York. Later that month she opened the Alberta Ferretti, Anna Molinari, Fendi
and Just Cavalli shows in Milan
and closed the Alberta Ferretti, Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Roberto Cavalli
shows also in Milan.
She is signed with the model agencies Next (New York), Women Model Management (Milan
and Paris
), Premier
(London
), Paparazzi (Helsinki
), Stockholmsgruppen Models 2pm management (Copenhagen) and IMM - International Model Management.
In February 2008 Mtv3
aired a documentary about her and Koponen said that she doesn't "care about weight things, but it's more important to me that I'm happy and I feel good. What happens to my body is going to happen and people have to live with that or I'll quit this job." Koponen also became the face of Blumarine
again.
professionals Outi Broux and Riku Campo ranked her number one on their Finland
's most successful models list. "Since the 70-80's no one has been as successful as Suvi," Outi said simply.
.
To prepare for fashion week, she said, "I slept! A lot! It's just really important to get a lot of rest. I have to mentally prepare myself, too. I have to be like, 'Suvi, it's only a month. You'll be ok.' That really helps."
Her favorite place is the Maldives
, where she shot a British Vogue editorial.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
fashion model who rose to fame after winning the 2005 Mallikoulu
Mallikoulu
Mallikoulu was a Finnish television reality show. The first season aired in 2005 in the channel MTV3. However, it wasn't made from the format of America's Next Top Model but from a new one. The show was promoted as a Finnish format. There were still several similarities to the famous American TV...
(Model School in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) contest in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, which can be compared with America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
, although it is not affiliated with the Top Model franchise.
Koponen has established a credible modeling career. She has worked for numerous designers including Anna Sui
Anna Sui
Anna Sui is an American fashion designer. Her luxury brand retails globally in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Her clothing, fragrance, cosmetic, and accessories lines sell at Anna Sui stores in over 50 countries and are also widely distributed at leading department stores...
, Vera Wang
Vera Wang
Vera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
, Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
, Donna Karan
Donna Karan
Donna Karan is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels.-Early life:...
, Anne Klein
Anne Klein
Anne Klein was an American fashion designer who founded her own women's sportswear and apparel label.-Biography:Anne Klein was born as Hannah Golofski in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on August 3, 1923...
, Blumarine
Blumarine
Blufin S.p.A is an Italian fashion house founded by Anna Molinari and her late husband Gianpaolo Tarabini. The core brand is Blumarine, which they started in 1977, followed by Miss Blumarine , Blugirl and Anna Molinari , which is being repositioned as their luxury brand...
, Miu Miu
Miu Miu
Miu Miu is a high fashion brand from the Prada fashion house, opened in 1993 and headed by Miuccia Prada. The name of the collection is taken from Miuccia Prada’s nickname.-Stores:...
, BCBG Max Azria
Max Azria
Max Azria is a French fashion designer of Tunisian Jewish descent who founded the contemporary women's clothing brand BCBGMAXAZRIA. Azria is also the designer, chairman and CEO of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, a global fashion house that encompasses over 20 brands...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, Nina Ricci
Nina Ricci (brand)
Nina Ricci is a fashion house founded by Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert in Paris in 1932, and owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998. Nina Ricci designed gowns while Robert managed the business and finances. She worked with the fabrics directly on the mannequin to...
and Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
. Koponen has also had an editorial in the French Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
shot by David Sims. Koponen has also appeared in the American Vogue and made the cover of Vogue Portugal in March 2008.
Career
In 2005 Koponen won the televised Mallikoulu ("Model School") contest. She got a model contract with FinnishFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Paparazzi agency. Koponen made her runway debut at the major Fashion Weeks during the Fall/Winter 06/07 runway season, but it was not until the following season that she truly broke out, walking exclusively for Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
and Miu Miu. Paul Rowland http://paulrowland.com/, the founder of Supreme, met Suvi for the first time in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He designed a unique hairstyle for her and famously told Miuccia Prada: "I have got a new star for you." She was also on the cover of Finnish magazine Pàp in November 2005 and also in 2006. Later the same year, she appeared on the cover of Amica magazine (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) and in print ads for Anteprime. After 2006 Koponen became recognised internationally.
In 2007 Koponen appeared in five editorials for French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. She became the face of Balenciaga
Balenciaga
Balenciaga is a fashion house founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Basque designer, born in the Basque Country, Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern...
fall campaign and replaced Natalia Vodianova
Natalia Vodianova
Natalia Mikhailovna Vodianova is a Russian model and philanthropist who now permanently resides in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Born in Gorky, Soviet Union , Natalia Vodianova grew up in a poor district of the city with her mother and two half sisters, one of whom has cerebral palsy...
as the face of the Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
collection. In February 2007 she walked the runways for Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
, Jil Sander
Jil Sander
Heidemarie Jiline 'Jil' Sander is a minimalist German fashion designer and the founder of the Jil Sander fashion house....
, and Nina Ricci
Nina Ricci (brand)
Nina Ricci is a fashion house founded by Maria "Nina" Ricci and her son Robert in Paris in 1932, and owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998. Nina Ricci designed gowns while Robert managed the business and finances. She worked with the fabrics directly on the mannequin to...
, among others. She appeared on cover of French Vogue Beaute and opened the Jill Stuart, Marc by Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is an American fashion designer. He is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries. He has been the creative director of the French design house Louis Vuitton since 1997...
, and Marni
Marni
The name Marni originates from several languages, including Hebrew, meaning "rejoice", and Latin as a variant of "Marina", meaning "of the sea". It also has derivations from Gaelic and Swahili. "Marni" and "Marnie" are the two most common spellings of the female first name, ranking 2446 and 1498,...
fashion shows and closed the Nina Ricci show in Paris. She appeared on cover of Dazed & Confused
Dazed & Confused (magazine)
Dazed & Confused is a British style magazine, that was set up in 1992 and published monthly. Its founding editors were Jefferson Hack and Rankin...
in April 2007. In fall 2007 she became the face of Blumarine
Blumarine
Blufin S.p.A is an Italian fashion house founded by Anna Molinari and her late husband Gianpaolo Tarabini. The core brand is Blumarine, which they started in 1977, followed by Miss Blumarine , Blugirl and Anna Molinari , which is being repositioned as their luxury brand...
spring ad-campaign alongside Bette Franke
Bette Franke
Bette Franke is a Dutch fashion model. At fourteen years old, she was discovered by famous Dutch modeling agent Wilma Wakker in Amsterdam, while shopping with her mother for ponies....
and starred in the Mulberry
Mulberry (company)
Mulberry is a British fashion company known for its luxury leather goods.-Background:The company was founded in 1971 by Roger Saul and his mother Joan—in 1973 they opened a factory in Chilcompton, Somerset, England. Mulberry established itself as a British lifestyle brand, noted for its leather...
fall ad-campaign alongside Caroline Trentini
Caroline Trentini
Caroline Trentini , also known as Carol Trentini, is a Brazilian fashion model.- Early life :...
. In fall 2008 Suvi was the face of Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
in a campaign shot by Fabien Baron
Fabien Baron
Fabien Baron is a French art director. He is editorial director of Interview magazine.-Life and career :In 1982, Baron came to New York with the idea of staying for six months....
.
In August 2007 New York Magazine chose "The Top Ten Models to Watch This Fashion Week" and placed Koponen on third.
In September 2007 she was named one of British Vogue's “Head Girls,” a model to watch out for in the upcoming season. She also opened the Reem Acra spring show in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and closed the Carolina Herrera, Jill Stuart and DKNY
DKNY
DKNY is a label of fashion designer Donna Karan. It is also the name of a clothing store in New York City featuring Donna Karan's associated line.-History:...
spring shows in New York. Later that month she opened the Alberta Ferretti, Anna Molinari, Fendi
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
and Just Cavalli shows in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and closed the Alberta Ferretti, Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer from Florence.-Biography:Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute,...
shows also in Milan.
She is signed with the model agencies Next (New York), Women Model Management (Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
), Premier
Premier Model Management
Premier Model Management is one of the world's leading model agencies, founded in 1981 by former model Carole White and her brother Chris Owen....
(London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), Paparazzi (Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
), Stockholmsgruppen Models 2pm management (Copenhagen) and IMM - International Model Management.
In February 2008 Mtv3
MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...
aired a documentary about her and Koponen said that she doesn't "care about weight things, but it's more important to me that I'm happy and I feel good. What happens to my body is going to happen and people have to live with that or I'll quit this job." Koponen also became the face of Blumarine
Blumarine
Blufin S.p.A is an Italian fashion house founded by Anna Molinari and her late husband Gianpaolo Tarabini. The core brand is Blumarine, which they started in 1977, followed by Miss Blumarine , Blugirl and Anna Molinari , which is being repositioned as their luxury brand...
again.
Public image
FinnishFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
professionals Outi Broux and Riku Campo ranked her number one on their Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
's most successful models list. "Since the 70-80's no one has been as successful as Suvi," Outi said simply.
Personal life
Koponen has “5” tattooed on the middle of her back, both the number of people in her family and her lucky number. She also has the text "imported" tattooed under her chest, three lines on her left wrist and "Cat" on her right hand, which stands for her model friend, Catherine McNeilCatherine McNeil
Catherine McNeil is an Australian fashion model. At fourteen years old, she won a model search contest hosted by Girlfriend.-Career:...
.
To prepare for fashion week, she said, "I slept! A lot! It's just really important to get a lot of rest. I have to mentally prepare myself, too. I have to be like, 'Suvi, it's only a month. You'll be ok.' That really helps."
Her favorite place is the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, where she shot a British Vogue editorial.
External links
- Suvi Koponen at the Fashion Model DirectoryFashion Model DirectoryThe Fashion Model Directory is an online database of information about female fashion models, modeling agencies, fashion labels, fashion magazines, fashion designers and fashion editorials. FMD is often denoted as the IMDb of the fashion industry, for being one of the world's largest fashion...
- Suvi Koponen on MODELS.com's "Top 50 Models"